Tagged!

I was just telling Scott earlier tonight how I had not blogged in so long and that I just didn't feel like I had anything to say. Ephraim has not had any reactions to any foods he's been eating and I am certainly enjoying being able to eat anything I want. However, in the last month Ephraim had a nasty stomach virus that Scott & I both got at the same time two days later (Ellie, always the medical marvel, never got it). And now Ephraim has had some major diarrhea for DAYS. And of concern to me, he eats like a bird. He won't try anything new. You have to trick him to get new foods into his mouth and then he just gags himself until he works the food out of his mouth. He will really only eat baby food consistently, and now he's starting to not really want that. People always say babies will eat when they get hungry, but quite frankly... I don't believe that! Ephraim must have his Daddy's... okay, his Mommy's stubbornness.

So, on a lighter note, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had been tagged. Now I have something to say!

Angela tagged me and so here you go:

The Five Tag

10 years ago I:
1. got engaged to Scott
2. bought my first home
3. became an Aunt
4. had been out of college for one year
5. had my first real full-time job

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. laundry (remember... DAYS of diarrhea)
2. read my Bible
3. pray
4. go to bed
5. sleep

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. hummus & pita chips
2. vanilla yogurt with mini dark chocolate chips
3. Thin Mints (Girl Scout cookies)
4. pumpkin anything
5. banana chips

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. pay off our house and van
2. hire all kinds of people to do all kinds of things for me... cook, maid, gardener, etc.
3. have a real artist paint a picture of my kids to hang over my piano
4. spend almost every minute of my life with my family
5. give generously!

5 places I have lived:
1. Dalton, GA
2. Athens, GA
3. Chapel Hill, NC
4. Chattanooga, TN
5. Ringgold, GA

5 jobs I have had:
1. Pharmacist
2. Pharmacy intern
3. research assistant
4. server in a restaurant
5. receptionist

I am tagging: Shana F, Tammy H, Tamara C, Terri R, and Chelle R! I'm not leaving you a comment on your blog... you'll just have to read mine to find out you've been tagged!

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

2 Birthday Parties, Eating, and More!

First of all, I am stinking at blogging lately. I have not updated you, dear friends, on the fact that I can eat a few things now! Ephraim is doing okay on milk. He will drink it though he doesn't seem especially fond of it. Most nights this last week he only woke up to nurse once. That is so fab! I mailed his stool sample to his GI specialist today - his day 12 was Saturday. But, my friend who is a nurse tested a stool sample for me Friday, only a day early, and it was just fine! Soy was the first thing I decided to add back. SO, I had Salsaritas Friday, Mellow Mushroom pizza Saturday, and Tres Amigos Sunday. I have also had a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks (a surprise from my sweet husband on Saturday), ice cream, and a chocolate bar. We will do another stool sample at the pediatricians office on Thursday. If it is okay we will add eggs next.

We have been trying some solid foods with Ephraim. He is not interested. He spits it out, makes faces, and even gags sometimes. I don't really remember it, but Scott said it was a painful process with Ellie, also, to go from baby food to solids. I've also been trying to get him to learn to use a sippy cup. He just can't get the turning it up. I know it will come, it's just a learning process for him. Bless his little heart!

Ellie turned 4 years old last week. She also started preschool. She really likes it. She has homework, which she was not excited about until she started doing it, then all she could do was giggle and say how "neat" it was.

Scott has also been busy painting our dining room and kitchen. He is such a good husband!

So the McGhee's have been busy. I will post some pictures from the past few weeks.

Ephraim couldn't stop staring at his (dairy free) cupcake. It was so funny!

They were actually playing together. This was a first!

The first day of school.

Ellie working on her homework.

Ellie's party at Creative Discovery Museum - she giggled the whole time we sang "happy birthday"!

Oh yeah, baby! Cheese and more cheese... bring it on!

MILK!

It is the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday. I was sooo tired and went to bed just after we got the kids in bed. Ephraim woke up around 1:30 am for a feeding so now I am doing all my nightly duties before I go back to bed.

Monday after work we had a message from Ephraim's GI specialist that all his blood tests were negative and we could proceed with the reintroduction of milk. So this, well technically yesterday, morning Ephraim had one ounce of milk. Today he will get two ounces.

He did fine, but it usually takes about two days to see an effect. Thursday he has his one year check-up with our pediatrician, so I will get her to check his stool for blood. Keep him in your prayers and I will update when there is something to update. Thanks everyone!

Ephraim is ONE!

Happy Birthday my sweet little boy!







Look how little he was when he was born!

My water broke just after midnight one year ago today. Ephraim Thomas was born at 5:33 p.m. and weighed 7 lb 12 oz and was 21 inches long.

He now is trying to walk, has five teeth, and has a vocabulary of Dada, Mama, uh oh, baby, cat, and bye-bye. He jabbers all the time. He is such a sweet and happy boy - a blessing!

Ephraim's Doctor's Appt.

Thursday Ephraim had his appointment with his pediatric GI specialist about his many food allergies. If you remember, he had some bleeding when we got back from the beach. The doctor said since he'd had a problem so recently that he would do some blood tests that he usually only does if a child fails the challenge test. So, after our appointment we went over to the lab at the hospital and had blood drawn. They will check it for antibodies to the 5 most common allergens - eggs, milk, soy, nuts, and wheat. It should take about a week to get the results.

If we get positive blood test results, then the doctor will refer us to an allergy specialist. If the results are negative, Ephraim may still have allergies (the test has a high percentage of false negatives), but we are to proceed with the challenge test. For the challenge test, I will start giving Ephraim some milk, increasing the amount each day and watching for symptoms and also checking his stool for blood. The process takes almost 2 weeks.

There is something he can drink if he fails the milk challenge test. Either way I am weaning the boy. I think feeding him a year is fair. It is time for me to eat! So, maybe in a month or so I will be able to eat... ANYTHING I WANT!

Many have asked what my first meal will be... Mexican food... and I am going to pour a whole bowl of cheese dip across my plate! Yum!

Inspirational

Back in May I posted about Christian singer songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and the death of his youngest daughter. ABC News did a wonderful story on them today. You can read and watch the story here... (have Kleenex close by).

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5519704&page=1

A Miracle is Occuring ...

Yes, it's true. Both of my children are napping at the same time. It is truly a miracle! Ellie doesn't really take naps anymore unless she just happens to fall asleep somewhere - like watching TV today. I came home from work to a quiet house and thought, "what in the world should I do..." I'll update the blog!

The week before this past week we were at the beach all week with my family - my parents, my three sisters, & their families - a total of 17 of us. It is an annual event. (We didn't go last year because I was SOOO pregnant). Anyway, we had a great time this year. The only bad thing was that because of the tropical storm the ocean was closed for four days while we were there. Ellie didn't like that a bit but we kept her plenty busy! We drove down to Seaside one day and went to Gulf World Marine Park one day - both nice alternatives to the ocean. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment...

When we got back from the beach, the next night Ephraim was up all night, obviously miserable. You guessed it, he was bleeding again. Despite my best efforts to safely eat out a few (and only a few) times while we were on vacation, my baby boy has yet to outgrow his "protein intolerance". How frustrating! Less than 2 weeks until our appointment with his GE physician. No problems since then, though. I am back on my normal diet.

This past Thursday, we went to see Coach Mark Richt. He was in Ringgold. We told Ellie he'd sign her football, but his plane was late & then he had to leave on time so he didn't do autographs. She did, however, get her picture made with the cheerleaders. She was happy with that. And she loves Hairy Dawg. So she was especially excited that she got to see him. I didn't get a pic of her with him - maybe next time. Ephraim wore his Georgia shirt, too!

That's probably all of the major events we've experienced these past few weeks. I must mention one last thing... while at the beach I did read a really good book. It's called The Shack by William P. Young. It was highly recommended by several of my friends. I, too, would highly recommend it. For more info check out www.theshackbook.com .